Many people have seen the initials HVAC on the side of a building, van, or truck, but few know what it really means. HVAC is an acronym which stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Traditionally, the machines and technology which made up these systems were individualized. Older buildings had a heat unit which was separate from the air conditioner, which was separate from the ventilation system. Over time, as technology advanced and the demand for greater efficiency grew, the HVAC system was invented and over many years of development, became mandatory in current and recently built structures. Now, HVAC system are mandatory in new constructions.
Historically, service professionals were trained and specialized in one field. An AC repairman would have a certificate in that field alone. Now, HVAC systems require licensed and certified repairmen in HVAC systems. It is rare that a company is consulted if their repairmen are not HVAC certified, so this is a question that must be asked of any prospective repair service. Prospective clients should inquire if the company is HVAC certified, and request only an HVAC certified technician.
A contractor from an HVAC Certified company is now a basic necessity. When contacting a company, it is imperative to ask the above questions. If a company is not certified, or does not have an HVAC Certified Technician, continue to contact other companies until you are certain of their skill and ability. There a numerous organizations that offer HVAC certification and training programs, there are also higher levels of training and specialization offered. It is wise to ask for references that you can contact to inquire about their work. When you have a positive interaction with the contractor, and receive positive feedback, you can then feel confident about your decision.
HVAC contractors and organizations define their specialty as one which provides a system of various types of heating, cooling, and ventilation services to both commercial and residential buildings. These services are mandatorily defined by standards of the industry. In addition, all components of these systems have standardized and acceptable product specifications delineated in guidebooks. Commercial buildings that are very large usually will require multiple HVAC Systems, and often these companies have engineers that design the systems and then request bids from contracted companies. For all practical purposes, the building engineers design the system and select the best company for the process; in some cases they hire multiple companies to achieve the same end in a speedier fashion.
HVAC contracting is a tremendous business, and it is now the norm for the thousands of companies in the United States to have local offices, often in multiple cities and states. With due diligence, and a basic understanding of HVAC definitions and personnel abilities, finding an appropriate HVAC repairs specialist is no longer the challenge it once was.
